Questions & Answers

ANGER

QUESTION: I understand that anger leads one to sin. Why did Jesus have anger when He found people selling and buying goods in the church?

ANSWER: None of the accounts of Jesus cleansing the temple mention that Jesus was angry (Matthew 21.12-17/ John 2.13-22/ Mark 11.15-19). Buying and selling was not to go on in God’s Holy Temple. The merchants were desecrating what was sacred and a stop had to be put to it. Jesus taught them that the Scriptures declare “My house will be called a place of prayer for all nations,” But, He said “you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

God’s temple was not to be turned into a marketplace. After this happened, Jesus’ disciples remembered this prophecy from Scripture: “Passion for God’s house burns within me.”

Concerning the subject of anger, we should endeavour to follow the example of Jesus – who did not give place to wrath.

Ephesians 4.26,31 warns:“If angry, beware of sinning. Let not your irritation last until the sun goes down; and do not leave room for the devil.

Let all bitterness and all passionate feeling, all anger and loud insulting language, be unknown among you – and also every kind of malice. On the contrary, learn to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has also forgiven you.”

James 1.20 encourages:“Let every one be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to be angry. A man’s anger does not accomplish God’s righteousness.

Ridding yourselves, therefore, of all that is vile and of the rank growth of malice, welcome in humble spirit the Word implanted within you, which is able to save your souls.”

May the Word of Christ and the kindness which comes from His Spirit dwell in you richly.